Method and apparatus for directed advertisement

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving registration information indicating a plurality of registered communication devices in proximity to a set-top box, the plurality of registered communication devices being registered according to a communication exchange between the set-top box and each of the plurality of registered communication devices, identifying a group of users associated with the plurality of registered communication devices, and determining characteristics for the group of users according to the identifying of the group of users, correlating the characteristics for the group of users, selecting a directed advertisement according to the correlating of the characteristics, and providing the directed advertisement to the set-top box for presentation. Other embodiments are disclosed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for directingadvertisements.

BACKGROUND

Some media services such as television broadcast services or streamingmedia services provide advertisements during portions of a presentationof media content. The effectiveness of such advertisements depends onthe interests of the viewers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system for directingadvertisements;

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method used in portionsof the system described in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method used in portionsof the system described in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system thatprovide media services to the system described in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal forinteracting with the communication systems of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for providing directed advertising. Other embodiments aredescribed in the subject disclosure.

One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes receiving registrationinformation indicating a plurality of registered communication devicesin proximity to a set-top box, the plurality of registered communicationdevices being registered according to a communication exchange betweenthe set-top box and each of the plurality of registered communicationdevices, identifying a group of users associated with the plurality ofregistered communication devices, and determining characteristics forthe group of users according to the identifying of the group of users.The embodiment can further include correlating the characteristics forthe group of users, selecting a directed advertisement according to thecorrelating of the characteristics, and providing the directedadvertisement to the set-top box for presentation.

One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a set-top boxincluding a memory that stores instructions and a processor coupled tothe memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, theprocessor performs operations including identifying a plurality ofcommunications devices in proximity to the set-top box, the plurality ofcommunication devices being registered according to a communicationexchange between the set-top box and each of the plurality ofcommunication devices, identifying a group of users associated with theplurality of communication devices, providing identification informationrelating to the group of users to a content delivery server, receivingan advertisement directed to the group of users from the content deliverserver, and providing the advertisement to the set-top box forpresentation.

One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a machine-readablestorage device, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, aprocessor performs operations including detecting that a media processoris in proximity to a mobile communications device and providinginformation to a content delivery server indicating that the mobilecommunications device is in proximity to the media processor to initiatedelivery by the content delivery server of an advertisement directed attargeting a user of the mobile communications device based on acharacteristic of the user of the mobile communications device.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 100for directing advertisements. Communication system can include a contentdelivery servers 106 that are operated by interactive television serviceproviders. Communication system 100 can include a residential gateway104 that connects to the content delivery servers 106 through a serviceprovider network infrastructure, a remote application server 110, or adevice registry 112 that manages information exchange between smartphoneremote applications or “apps” installed on mobile communicationsdevices, such as mobile devices 122 and 132, a collection of set topboxes 120 and 130 which can both be provided in a single user's house,an on premises access point 102 which can provide Internet connections,such as Wi-Fi connectivity to the mobile devices 122, 124, 126, 132, and134 in the home, where some of the mobile devices can utilize Bluetoothor other near-field communication capabilities.

Exemplarily, connectivity throughout the home includes use of wired andwireless connections depending on a customer configuration. Theresidential gateway 104 receives content from the content deliveryservers 106 through either a multicast or unicast tunnel, for example,based on the content. The residential gateway 104 provides anapplication tunnel between the remote application server 110, which canbe located at an application data center, and the applications or “apps”can be loaded onto and operated by various mobile devices, such asmobile device remote application 122. The smartphone remote app and theremote application server 110 can provide a mechanism for allowing theuser to control a set-top box of choice (either set-top box A 120 orset-top box B 130, for example). The smartphone remote app can alsoallow the smartphone or other communication devices to detect othercommunications devices in proximity to it and to a set-top box.

For example, in FIG. 1, Smartphone 122 includes an application thatcontrols set-top box A 120. In addition, exemplary smartphone remoteapps can provide the remote application server 110 with an indication ofwhich user is controlling set-top box A 120. The remote server app onsmartphone 122 communicates with the content delivery servers 106through a tunnel and updates the content delivery server 106 with acurrent user identity of who is in control of set-top box A 120. Inaddition, the remote server app on smartphone 122 can locate othernearby communication devices and report those devices to the contentdelivery server 106 or the remote application server 110.

Once the content delivery servers 106 are aware of which users arewatching the internet television provider's content as provided, forexample on displays associated with the either one of set-top box A 120or set-top box B 130 in a same residence or Internet television provideraccount, directed advertising can occur. In addition to providing theuser ID, the remote application server 110 can communicate relevantdemographic profiles which may be stored in a user demographic system108 that enables the content delivery servers 106 to provide highlydirected advertising.

In addition, when multiple users are watching the same set-top box (suchas set-top box A 120), the smart phone app 122 can also detectsignatures of nearby devices (this can include near fieldcommunications, Bluetooth communication capabilities, or detecting asignal from the mobile devices). Whenever a signal is detected, the IDof the signal is sent back to the remote application server 110 whereidentification matching can occur for the device detected to reveal anadditional user ID watching the set-top box A 120. These additionalviewer and/or viewers are communicated to the content delivery servers106 where rules and other guidelines can be provided to communicateadvertisements that are relevant to all parties watching at any specificmoment in time.

The content delivery server 106 can determine characteristics for thegroup of users according to the identifying of the group of users. Thecontent deliver server 106 can access the user demographic system 108 todetermine these characteristics. The content delivery server 106 cancorrelate the characteristics for the group of users and select adirected advertisement according to these correlated characteristics.

In additional embodiments, the content delivery servers 106 can weighthe group characteristics depending on which user is present. Forexample, weighting of first characteristics of a first user having afirst registered communication device that is controlling presentationof the content by the set-top box can be given preferences whendetermining the directed advertisements. In other embodiments, userswith appealing demographics, higher end service plans, or higher incomecan be given priority when weighting the characteristics for determiningthe directed advertisements. Furthermore, when the number of userschange, the content deliver server 106 can perform revising of thecharacteristics for the group of users based on the new group of users.

In some embodiments, a set-top box or a mobile device can identify anon-viewing user of the group of users that is in proximity to theset-top box. Based on this identification, the devices can determine theperson is not viewing content being presented by the set-top box basedon image pattern recognition of an image of a viewing area of theset-top box or mobile devices. For example, it may be determined thatthe person is not looking at the display device during the broadcast tothe set-top box. Based on this determination, the content deliveryserver 106 can ultimately exclude non-viewer characteristics of thenon-viewing user from the correlating of the characteristics.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of method 200 that can be usedin portions of system 100 described in FIG. 1. Method 200 can begin withstep 202 in which a set-top box receives information from one or moremobile devices in proximity to the set-top box. In additionalembodiments, a mobile device can determine its proximity to the set-topbox as well as the presence of any other mobile devices in proximity toit.

Mobile devices that are in proximity to the set-top box can refer tomobile devices in a same room as the set-top box to exemplarilydetermine the owner of the device is watching content from the set-topbox on a display associated with the set-top box. Determining proximitycan be accomplished in a variety of exemplary embodiments. In oneembodiment, the mobile devices may be detected through a utilization ofBluetooth or other near-field communication capabilities of the mobiledevices and the set-top boxes. In some embodiments, the set-top box candetect a Bluetooth signal from a mobile device and determine if themobile device is in the same room as the set-top box.

In other embodiments, the set-top box can utilize a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) to determine that a signal strength from amobile device is of sufficient power to indicate the mobile device isnearby. A mobile device emitting a signal with less than a predeterminedsignal strength may be determined as not being in the room with theset-top box or otherwise too far away to count as being in proximity. Inother exemplary embodiments, the set-top box can be in a communicationwith a camera device to determine that the user of a detected mobiledevice is actually in view of the display or actually facing thedisplay. Exemplarily, a mobile device is detectable as being withinproximity to a particular set-top box in a household having multipleset-top boxes so as to determine which person is watching which displayassociated with the set-top boxes.

In step 204, the users associated with each detected mobile device canbe determined. In this way, the viewers for a particular set top box canbe determined. In addition, in step 206, it can be determined whether amobile device has left the proximity of the set-top box and then in step208, that viewer's mobile device can be removed from the list ofregistered devices. Similarly, in step 210, it can be determined if anew mobile device has entered into a proximity to the set-top box. Instep 212, the newly arrived mobile device can be added to the list ofregistered mobile devices.

Determining the identities of the viewers in the list of registeredmobile devices in step 204 can take place at the set-top box, such asset top box A 120, the remote application server 110, the contentdelivery servers 106, or the user demographic system 108 as illustratedin FIG. 1. At step 214, these identities can be reported to the contentdelivery servers 106 to create or retrieve directed advertisements forthe detected viewers.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method 300 used byportions of the system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, amobile device may be used to control a set-top box. In households withmultiple set-top boxes, each set-top box may be controlled by adifferent or the same mobile devices. In step 302, control of theset-top box by a mobile device is initiated. In step 304, the mobiledevice can detect other mobile devices that are in proximity to it.Referring to FIG. 1, for example, the second mobile device 122 isrunning an application that allows it to control set-top box A 120. Inaddition, the app being run on mobile device 122 has also detected thethird mobile device 124 and the fourth mobile device 126.

Returning to FIG. 3, the detected mobile devices and the controllingmobile devices are counted as a group of registered users. In someembodiments, the detected mobile devices and the controlling mobiledevices are stored as a group of registered devices. If the detectedmobile devices and the controlling mobile devices are registered as agroup of devices, users of the group of devices can be determined by anyof the remote application server 110, the content delivery servers 106,or the user demographic system 108 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The groupof registered users can then be provided to a residential gateway, suchas residential gateway 104 of FIG. 1, by the controlling mobile devicein step 308. The mobile devices can communicate with the residentialgateway via an on premise access point 102 or through the mobiledevice's own Internet connection. In other embodiments, the mobiledevices can communicate directly with the remote application server 110through the mobile device's own Internet connection.

In alternative embodiments, as depicted by the dashed lines, the groupof users can be provided to the remote application server 110 for theapplication being run on the controlling mobile device which controlsthe set-top box in step 312. At step 314, a device registry 112 can beconsulted to determine the group of users of the mobile devices. Forexample, the mobile devices can be recorded at the device registry 112or the device registry 112 can determine who the users of the mobiledevices are through other means. The group of users can then be providedto the content delivery servers 106.

In step 310, the group of registered users are provided to the contentdelivery servers 106. In step 312, the content delivery server can thenprovide directed advertising to the set-top box for the group ofregistered users.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 400 for delivering media content. The communication system 400can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) media system.Communication system 400 can be overlaid or operably coupled with system100 presented in FIG. 1 and can be configured to perform in whole or inpart the steps of methods 200 and 300 of FIGS. 2 and 3 as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 400.

For instance, one or more devices illustrated in the communicationsystem 400 of FIG. 4 can perform receiving, by a system comprising aprocessor, registration information indicating a plurality of registeredcommunication devices in proximity to a set-top box, the plurality ofregistered communication devices being registered according to acommunication exchange between the set-top box and each of the pluralityof registered communication devices. The communication system 400 ofFIG. 4 can also perform identifying a group of users associated with theplurality of registered communication devices, determiningcharacteristics for the group of users according to the identifying ofthe group of users, correlating, by the system, the characteristics forthe group of users, selecting a directed advertisement according to thecorrelating of the characteristics, and providing the directedadvertisement to the set-top box for presentation.

The IPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO) 410 withat least one super headend office server (SHS) 411 which receives mediacontent from satellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In thepresent context, media content can represent, for example, audiocontent, moving image content such as 2D or 3D videos, video games,virtual reality content, still image content, and combinations thereof.The SHS server 411 can forward packets associated with the media contentto one or more video head-end servers (VHS) 414 via a network of videohead-end offices (VHO) 412 according to a multicast communicationprotocol.

The VHS 414 can distribute multimedia broadcast content via an accessnetwork 418 to commercial and/or residential buildings 402 housing agateway 404 (such as a residential or commercial gateway). The accessnetwork 418 can represent a group of digital subscriber line accessmultiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service areainterface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links orcopper twisted pairs 419 to buildings 402. The gateway 404 can usecommunication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 406 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 408 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 407 (such as aninfrared or RF remote controller).

The gateway 404, the media processors 406, and media devices 408 canutilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, powerlineor phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocolsuch as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth®, Zigbee®, or other presentor next generation local or personal area wireless network technologies.By way of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invokedbetween the media processors 406 and subsystems of the IPTV media systemfor services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

A satellite broadcast television system 429 can be used in the mediasystem of FIG. 4. The satellite broadcast television system can beoverlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 400. In thisembodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 415 that include mediacontent can be received by a satellite dish receiver 431 coupled to thebuilding 402. Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver431 can be transferred to the media processors 406 for demodulating,decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the mediadevices 408. The media processors 406 can be equipped with a broadbandport to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network 432 to enableinteractive services such as VoD and EPG as described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcastdistribution system such as cable TV system 433 can be overlaid,operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satelliteTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system400. In this embodiment, the cable TV system 433 can also provideInternet, telephony, and interactive media services. System 400 enablesvarious types of interactive television and/or services including IPTV,cable and/or satellite.

The subject disclosure can apply to other present or next generationover-the-air and/or landline media content services system.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 430, a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing web portal services over the ISP network 432 towireline media devices 408 or wireless communication devices 416.

Communication system 400 can also provide for all or a portion of thecomputing devices 430 to function as a mobile device controllerapplication 430. The mobile device controller application 430 can usecomputing and communication technology to perform providing directedadvertising 462, which can include among other things, receiving a groupof registered users from a gateway. For instance, providing directedadvertising 462 of server 430 can be similar to the functions describedfor content delivery server 106 of FIG. 1. The media processors 406 andwireless communication devices 416 can be provisioned with softwarefunctions 466 and 468, respectively, to utilize the services 430. Forinstance, functions 466 and 468 of media processors 406 and wirelesscommunication devices 416 can be similar to the functions described forthe mobile devices 122, 124, 126, 132, and 134 of FIG. 1 and initiatingcontrol of a set-top box via a mobile device in step 302 and providingthe group of registered users to a residential gateway in step 308 ofFIG. 3.

Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices overlandline technologies such as those described above. Additionally, mediaservices can be offered to media devices by way of a wireless accessbase station 417 operating according to common wireless access protocolssuch as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Accessor CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal MobileTelecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave orWiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and soon. Other present and next generation wide area wireless access networktechnologies can be used in one or more embodiments of the subjectdisclosure.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal 502 of acommunication system 500. Communication system 500 can be overlaid oroperably coupled with system 100 of FIG. 1 and communication system 400as another representative embodiment of system 100 of FIG. 1 andcommunication system 400. The web portal 502 can be used for managingservices of system 100 of FIG. 1 and communication system 400. The webportal 502 can be configured to perform in whole or in part the steps ofmethods 200 and 300 of FIGS. 2 and 3 as another representativeembodiment of the web portable 502. A web page of the web portal 502 canbe accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with an Internet browserusing an Internet-capable communication device such as those describedin FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. The web portal 502 can be configured, for example,to access a media processor 406 and services managed thereby such as aDigital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog, anElectronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such aspersonal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the mediaprocessor 406. The web portal 502 can also be used for provisioning IMSservices described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioningcellular phone services, and so on.

The web portal 502 can further be utilized to manage and provisionsoftware applications 466 and 468 to adapt these applications as may bedesired by subscribers and/or service providers of system 100 of FIG. 1and communication users wishing to control a set-top box can log intotheir on-line accounts and provision the remote application server 110or server 430 with a controller application that can control the set-topbox and detect other mobile devices as depicted in system 100 of FIG. 1,communication system 400, and so on. Service providers can log onto anadministrator account to provision, monitor and/or maintain system 100of FIG. 1 or server 430.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device 600.Communication device 600 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in system 100 of FIG. 1and communication system 400 and can be configured to perform portionsof methods 200 and 300 of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Communication device 600 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 602 (herein transceiver 602), a user interface (UI) 604, apower supply 614, a location receiver 616, a motion sensor 618, anorientation sensor 620, and a controller 606 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 602 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth®and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special InterestGroup and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 602 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 604 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 608 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device600. The keypad 608 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 600 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad 608 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTYkeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 604 can further include a display610 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 600. In anembodiment where the display 610 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 608 can be presented by way of the display 610 withnavigation features.

The display 610 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, thecommunication device 600 can be adapted to present a user interface withgraphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by a userwith a touch of a finger. The touch screen display 610 can be equippedwith capacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology todetect how much surface area of a user's finger has been placed on aportion of the touch screen display. This sensing information can beused to control the manipulation of the GUI elements or other functionsof the user interface. The display 610 can be an integral part of thehousing assembly of the communication device 600 or an independentdevice communicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface(such as a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 604 can also include an audio system 612 that utilizes audiotechnology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard inproximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphonefor hands free operation). The audio system 612 can further include amicrophone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audiosystem 612 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI604 can further include an image sensor 613 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 614 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energyto the components of the communication device 600 to facilitatelong-range or short-range portable applications. Alternatively, or incombination, the charging system can utilize external power sources suchas DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port orother suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 616 can utilize location technology such as aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS foridentifying a location of the communication device 600 based on signalsgenerated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used forfacilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor 618can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, agyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motionof the communication device 600 in three-dimensional space. Theorientation sensor 620 can utilize orientation sensing technology suchas a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device600 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations indegrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 600 can use the transceiver 602 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time offlight (TOF) measurements. The controller 606 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits,and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executingcomputer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by theaforementioned components of the communication device 600.

Other components not shown in FIG. 6 can be used in one or moreembodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communicationdevice 600 can include a reset button (not shown). The reset button canbe used to reset the controller 606 of the communication device 600. Inyet another embodiment, the communication device 600 can also include afactory default setting button positioned, for example, below a smallhole in a housing assembly of the communication device 600 to force thecommunication device 600 to re-establish factory settings. In thisembodiment, a user can use a protruding object such as a pen or paperclip tip to reach into the hole and depress the default setting button.The communication device 600 can also include a slot for adding orremoving an identity module such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)card. SIM cards can be used for identifying subscriber services,executing programs, storing subscriber data, and so forth.

The communication device 600 as described herein can operate with moreor less of the circuit components shown in FIG. 6. These variantembodiments can be used in one or more embodiments of the subjectdisclosure.

The communication device 600 can be adapted to perform the functions ofsystem 100 of FIG. 1, the media processor 406, the media devices 408, orthe portable communication devices 416 of FIG. 4. It will be appreciatedthat the communication device 600 can also represent other devices thatcan operate system 100 of FIG. 1, communication systems 400 of FIG. 4such as a gaming console and a media player. In addition, the controller606 can be adapted in various embodiments to perform the functions 466and 468, respectively.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope of theclaims described below. For example, short-distance communicationssystems, such as BlueTooth, can be employed between any of the set-topboxes and the mobile communication devices described in the subjectdisclosure. The mobile communication devices can include cell phones,personal data assistants, tablets, personal computers, and laptops.These devices can communicate with each other, set-top boxes in apremises, a gateway, and/or an application server to control the set-topboxes and to report on a number and identities of viewers viewing apresentation by one of the set-top boxes. In addition, viewers may beable to register their presence within at set-top boxes without having amobile communications device through another person's mobile device.Other embodiments can be used in the subject disclosure.

It should be understood that devices described in the exemplaryembodiments can be in communication with each other via various wirelessand/or wired methodologies. The methodologies can be links that aredescribed as coupled, connected and so forth, which can includeunidirectional and/or bidirectional communication over wireless pathsand/or wired paths that utilize one or more of various protocols ormethodologies, where the coupling and/or connection can be direct (e.g.,no intervening processing device) and/or indirect (e.g., an intermediaryprocessing device such as a router).

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 700 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethods described above. One or more instances of the machine canoperate, for example, as the set-top boxes, mobile communicationsdevices, content delivery servers, and application servers, and otherdevices of FIGS. 1-6. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected(e.g., using a network 726) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in a server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet, a smart phone, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a communication device of the subject disclosureincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterm “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

The computer system 700 may include a processor (or controller) 702(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), a graphics processing unit(GPU, or both), a main memory 704 and a static memory 706, whichcommunicate with each other via a bus 707. The computer system 700 mayfurther include a display unit 710 (e.g., a liquid crystal display(LCD), a flat panel, or a solid state display). The computer system 700may include an input device 712 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 714 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 716, a signal generationdevice 718 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 720. In distributed environments, the embodiments described inthe subject disclosure can be adapted to utilize multiple display units710 controlled by two or more computer systems 700. In thisconfiguration, presentations described by the subject disclosure may inpart be shown in a first of the display units 710, while the remainingportion is presented in a second of the display units 710.

The disk drive unit 716 may include a tangible computer-readable storagemedium 722 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g.,software 724) embodying any one or more of the methods or functionsdescribed herein, including those methods illustrated above. Theinstructions 724 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 704, the static memory 706, and/or within theprocessor 702 during execution thereof by the computer system 700. Themain memory 704 and the processor 702 also may constitute tangiblecomputer-readable storage media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Application specific integrated circuits andprogrammable logic array can use downloadable instructions for executingstate machines and/or circuit configurations to implement embodiments ofthe subject disclosure. Applications that may include the apparatus andsystems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronicand computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two ormore specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with relatedcontrol and data signals communicated between and through the modules,or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, theexample system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the subject disclosure, theoperations or methods described herein are intended for operation assoftware programs or instructions running on or executed by a computerprocessor or other computing device, and which may include other formsof instructions manifested as a state machine implemented with logiccomponents in an application specific integrated circuit or fieldprogrammable gate array. Furthermore, software implementations (e.g.,software programs, instructions, etc.) including, but not limited to,distributed processing or component/object distributed processing,parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also beconstructed to implement the methods described herein. It is furthernoted that a computing device such as a processor, a controller, a statemachine or other suitable device for executing instructions to performoperations or methods may perform such operations directly or indirectlyby way of one or more intermediate devices directed by the computingdevice.

While the tangible computer-readable storage medium 722 is shown in anexample embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable ofstoring or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods ofthe subject disclosure. The term “non-transitory” as in a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage includes without limitation memories, drives,devices and anything tangible but not a signal per se.

The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordinglybe taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such asa memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only(non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable(volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a diskor tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, and HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-timesuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g.,RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth®, WiFi, Zigbee®), andlong-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, LTE) can be used bycomputer system 700.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Theexemplary embodiments can include combinations of features and/or stepsfrom multiple embodiments. Other embodiments may be utilized and derivedtherefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figuresare also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certainproportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized.Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves thesame or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments describedor shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intendedto cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure.For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can becombined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. Inone or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can alsobe negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or withoutreplacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The stepsor functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subjectdisclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functionsdescribed with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure canbe performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions ofthe subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from othersteps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further,more than or less than all of the features described with respect to anembodiment can also be utilized.

Less than all of the steps or functions described with respect to theexemplary processes or methods can also be performed in one or more ofthe exemplary embodiments. Further, the use of numerical terms todescribe a device, component, step or function, such as first, second,third, and so forth, is not intended to describe an order or functionunless expressly stated so. The use of the terms first, second, thirdand so forth, is generally to distinguish between devices, components,steps or functions unless expressly stated otherwise. Additionally, oneor more devices or components described with respect to the exemplaryembodiments can facilitate one or more functions, where the facilitating(e.g., facilitating access or facilitating establishing a connection)can include less than every step needed to perform the function or caninclude all of the steps needed to perform the function.

In one or more embodiments, a processor (which can include a controlleror circuit) has been described that performs various functions. Itshould be understood that the processor can be multiple processors,which can include distributed processors or parallel processors in asingle machine or multiple machines. The processor can be used insupporting a virtual processing environment. The virtual processingenvironment may support one or more virtual machines representingcomputers, servers, or other computing devices. In such virtualmachines, components such as microprocessors and storage devices may bevirtualized or logically represented. The processor can include a statemachine, application specific integrated circuit, and/or programmablegate array including a Field PGA. In one or more embodiments, when aprocessor executes instructions to perform “operations”, this caninclude the processor performing the operations directly and/orfacilitating, directing, or cooperating with another device or componentto perform the operations.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can beseen that various features are grouped together in a single embodimentfor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method ofdisclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that theclaimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subjectmatter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimedsubject matter.

1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a processing system comprising aprocessor, registration information indicating a plurality of registeredcommunication devices in proximity to a set-top box, the plurality ofregistered communication devices being registered according to acommunication exchange between the set-top box and each of the pluralityof registered communication devices; identifying, by the processingsystem, a group of users associated with the plurality of registeredcommunication devices; identifying, by the processing system, a firstregistered communication device and a second registered communicationdevice of the plurality of registered communication devices in proximityto the set-top box; determining, by the processing system,characteristics for the group of users according to the identifying ofthe group of users; determining, by the processing system, which of thefirst registered communication device and the second registeredcommunication device controls presentation of content by the set-top boxas a control device; correlating, by the processing system, thecharacteristics for the group of users; selecting, by the processingsystem, a directed advertisement according to the correlating of thecharacteristics; and providing, by the processing system, the directedadvertisement to the set-top box for presentation.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: determining, by the system, that the firstregistered communication device controls the presentation of the contentby the set-top box as the control device; determining, by the system,that the second registered communication device does not controlpresentation of content by the set-top box; and identifying, by thesystem, a first user and second user associated with the firstregistered communication device and the second registered communicationdevice, respectively.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the correlatingof the characteristics for the group of users comprises weighting firstcharacteristics of the first user having the first registeredcommunication device controlling presentation of the content by theset-top box differently from weighting second characteristics of thesecond user having the second registered communication device notcontrolling presentation of the content by the set-top box.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: detecting, by the system, that aregistered communication device of the plurality of registeredcommunication devices that was not in proximity to the set-top box isnow in proximity to the set-top box; revising the correlating, by thesystem, of the characteristics for the group of users based on thirdcharacteristics of a user of the registered communication device;selecting, by the system, a second directed advertisement according tothe revising of the correlating of the characteristics; and providing,by the system, the second directed advertisement to the set-top box forpresentation.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving,by the system, updated registration information indicating a registeredcommunication device of the plurality of registered communication deviceis no longer in proximity to the set-top box; revising the correlating,by the system, of the characteristics for the group of users based onexcluding characteristics of a user of the registered communicationdevice; selecting, by the system, a second directed advertisementaccording to the revising of the correlating of the characteristics; andproviding, by the system, the second directed advertisement to theset-top box for presentation.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving, by the system, updated registration informationindicating a registered communication device that was not in proximityto the set-top box is now in proximity to the set-top box; revising thecorrelating, by the system, of the characteristics for the group ofusers based on characteristics of a user of the registered communicationdevice; selecting, by the system, a second directed advertisementaccording to the revising of the correlating of the characteristics; andproviding, by the system, the second directed advertisement to theset-top box for presentation.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein thecorrelating of the characteristics for the group of users comprises:identifying a non-viewing user of the group of users that is inproximity to the set-top box and not viewing content being presented bythe set-top box, wherein the identifying of the non-viewing user of thegroup of users is based on image pattern recognition of an image of aviewing area of the set-top box, and excluding non-viewercharacteristics of the non-viewing user from the correlating of thecharacteristics.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of theregistration information is via a wireless interface.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the wireless interface comprises one of a gateway andan access point.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining ofthe characteristics for the group of users is based on demographicprofiles.
 11. A set-top box, comprising: a memory that storesinstructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsiveto executing the instructions, the processor performs operationscomprising: identifying a plurality of communications devices inproximity to the set-top box, the plurality of communication devicesbeing registered according to a communication exchange between theset-top box and each of the plurality of communication devices;identifying a first registered communication device and a secondregistered communication device of the plurality of communicationdevices in proximity to the set-top box; identifying a group of usersassociated with the plurality of communication devices; determining thatthe first registered communication device controls presentation ofcontent by the set-top box; determining that the second registeredcommunication device does not control presentation of content by theset-top box; providing identification information relating to the groupof users to a content delivery server; receiving an advertisementdirected to the group of users from the content deliver server; andproviding the advertisement to the set-top box for presentation.
 12. Theset-top box of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:providing identification information relating to the first registeredcommunication device and the second registered communication device tothe content delivery server, wherein the content delivery server weighsthe first registered communication device differently from the secondregistered communication device in determining the advertisement. 13.The set-top box of claim 11, wherein the identifying the plurality ofcommunications devices in proximity to the set-top box comprisesdetecting a signal from each one of the plurality of communicationdevices.
 14. The set-top box of claim 13, wherein the detecting thesignal from the plurality of communication devices comprises comparing astrength of each one the signals against a threshold signal strength todetermine if the one of the plurality of communications devices is in apredetermined distance to the set-top box.
 15. The set-top box of claim14, wherein the identifying the plurality of communications devices inproximity to the set-top box further comprises confirming that theplurality of communication devices are in a same room as the set-top boxby employing a camera to track users of the plurality of communicationdevices.
 16. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executableinstructions that, when executed by a processing system including aprocessor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: detectingthat a media processor is in proximity to a mobile communicationsdevice; determining that the mobile communications device is related toa controller that controls presentation of content by the mediaprocessor; and providing information to a content delivery serverindicating that the mobile communications device is related to thecontroller that controls the presentation of content and is in proximityto the media processor to initiate delivery by the content deliveryserver of an advertisement directed at targeting a user of the mobilecommunications device based on a characteristic of the user of themobile communications device.
 17. The machine-readable storage medium ofclaim 16, wherein the mobile communications device establishes controlof the media processor.
 18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim16, wherein the operations further comprise: identifying additionalcommunications devices in proximity to the media processor; andproviding updated information to the content delivery server indicatingthat the additional communications devices are in proximity to the mediaprocessor to initiate delivery by the content delivery server of anupdated advertisement directed at targeting users of the additionalcommunications devices and the user of the mobile communications devicebased on characteristics of the users of the additional communicationsdevices.
 19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, whereinthe operations further comprise: identifying a communication device ofthe additional communication devices is no longer in proximity to themedia processor; generating revised information to exclude thecommunications device; and providing the revised information to thecontent delivery server to initiate delivery of an updated advertisementto the media processor.
 20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim18, wherein the operations further comprise: identifying a communicationdevice not part of the additional communications devices; generatingrevised information to recognize the communications device; andproviding the revised information to the content delivery server toinitiate delivery of an updated advertisement to the media processor.